India approves booster dose of Sputnik

Over 6.5 lakh people who have received Russian-made Sputnik COVID vaccine will soon be eligible to take booster jab. 

India had earlier given nod for a third dose of COVID vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield – for adult population. 

However, a latest report stated that the government has now given nod for a third dose of Sputnik vaccine.

The Centre has approved the use of Sputnik Light as third precautionary dose and it will soon be available at private vaccination centres across the country, according to sources.

This comes after the NTAGI has recommended that the first dose of the Russian COVID-19 jab can be administered as the precaution dose. 

The two doses of Sputnik V vaccine have separate compositions. 

The first dose of the vaccine contains a recombinant adenovirus type 26 (rAd26-S) and the second dose a recombinant adenovirus 5 (rAd5-S), an official explained.

Currently, there is no policy decision on providing a precaution dose to those inoculated with the Russian vaccine.

The CoWIN portal does not show the option of precaution dose for Sputnik V.

Many Sputnik V recipients who had taken their second dose way back in July last year are unable to get the booster shot.

The two doses of Sputnik V are administered at a gap of 21-30 days.